Many people look back on their high school years and shake their heads. Some even graduate and then never, ever turn back. To me, that is truly a shame. I attended Episcopal High School, a co-ed four year boarding school located in Alexandria, Virginia, right outside Washington, D.C.

Although college has been everything and more, I continue to find myself struggling to let go, especially during tough times. I always tell myself that we all need to move on and proceed forward with our lives, but that we should always hold on to the memories and the years that shaped us into who we are today.

I dreamt of being a student at Episcopal since the sixth grade, when my older brother Chris began studying there. When I was finally granted admission to EHS, I was overjoyed to begin my freshman year. I went in with open ears and an open heart, ready to take on the best four years of my life; and that is exactly what I accomplished. It is times like these when I become nostalgic as my younger brother finishes the application process and eagerly awaits his response from The High School.

I formed bonds with teachers at Episcopal that is nearly impossible to do anywhere else. I worked with them in the classroom, as well as after class in tutorials, and on the athletic fields in the afternoon. 85% of the faculty lives on campus, something that is extremely difficult to find on any other campus. I was able to talk to them about anything and trusted them with everything.

Each Wednesday we would have half days and have the opportunity to go with one of our classes on a tour. Busses would take us into Washington, D.C. and we would go on a tour somewhere to learn more about something that had to do with the class we were taking.

Every Monday, Thursday and Friday we had Chapel before lunch in the on-campus chapel. We sang hymns, listened to student performers and speakers, and listened to the Chaplain talk. I felt so comfortable and so loved that I even had the confidence to get up in front of the entire school during Chapel and speak about a personal experience while relating it to a story in the Bible.

Episcopal High School has traditions that we take pride in as students. Theres the Seminary Cup, where all the girls athletic teams compete against St. Steven's St. Agnes School for the cup. There are mass meetings, which is like a pep rally, where all of the students dress up in a certain theme and go to the gym and get pumped up by the cheerleaders. And the biggest of all, Woodberry Weekend, where Episcopal and Woodberry compete in football in the annual "Game" which is known as the longest standing rivalry in the South, standing proudly on 116 years.

These traditions do not just end when a student's time at Episcopal ends. Alumni are proud of their alma mater and continuously return to the Holy Hill to show their support and pride for The High School.

I met people at Episcopal that I can be myself around. We would adventure every week, into D.C., to Friday night on campus DJ's, to troll around the library, to throw rocks at the boys windows, to the center right down the street, to the track, anywhere and everywhere, all that mattered was that we were together.

I made friends at Episcopal that will surely last a lifetime. I made friends that truly know who I am, inside and out. Some that I encounter today say that they don't understand my humor or who I am. They fail to see the light that shines through me. It is my true friends who have taken the chance to get to know me that truly understand. Those are the friends that I made at Episcopal High School.

Attending such a school as Episcopal was an immense and humbling experience. While I love college, each and every day I miss my time at EHS and reflect on the memories I made there. When times get tough, I wish I could go back and be a student on the Holy Hill once more. I wish that I could give another Chapel talk. I wish that I could go back and run around D.C. like crazy with my best friends. I wish that I could hang out with the teachers on the athletic fields again.

I am so grateful for all that Episcopal High School gave to me and I carry it with me each and everyday. I have forever friends that understand me, take the time to listen, and will always be there. I can honestly say EHS were the best four years of my life.